Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-26


tumbled in retail stores together to
meet the pressing demands of the in:
creasing population, hardware and
calico being sold over the same count
er; and there were two or three great
canvasaries OF hotels, we'll dressed gen
tlemen struggled with red-shirted, long
booted sons of the border for a
seat at the table. And there
was a travelling theatrical company
in town. Great colored pictorial bills
announced that the play OF "Ingomar,
the Barbarian" would be presented
that night, with the great London
tragedian. Mr.. Templemore in the
title role, while the beautiful and ac-
complished Miss Gertrude Devereaux
would assume the part of Parthenia.
That night Mr.. Rawlinson, contrary
to all my experience Of him, was rest
less and uneasy. If I was supersti-
tons, I would say with him, f'com-
ing events cast their shadows before"
Surprising that he wished my COM
pany no more than he ever had at
the close OF the day, l was about to
withdraw from the hotel, when he
asked me, with chasteristic abrupt
ness, Where are you going?"
"Mereiy to walk about town."
"Tll go with you."
As we went along the streets he
made an effort to talk, but ] could
see that 1t was only his uneasy frame
of mind breaking through his usual
abstraction. We passed crowd in
front of a great board building, where
flaring colored lights illuminated the
posters OF "Ingomar.
"What's this?" he asked.
IA play" replied.
"Theater?-yes, used to go often.
! havn't seen play for many years.
Let's 90 up"
you'll hardly see any thing in there
to please YOU" I demurred.
''No matter I feel like most any
thing for diversion"
We paid our 25 cents respectively,
and assembled the dirty stairs.
We entered hall furnished with
wooden benches, where 500
people, seven eighth OF them
men, were seated on the same level,
smoking, talking and chatting" the
performers. On a scartily furnished
stage a loud-mouth, brawling lingo
mar was holding forth to the captive
Myron and the outlaws about him.
Mr.. Rawlinson and l obtained seats
with some difficulty. He glanced at
the stage and the audience, and then
became absorbed in his thoughts.
Not anticipating the slightest pleas
ure from the performance, Icontinued
to look idly at Ingomar, and was not
long in detecting IN his voice that
peculiar horseness that results from
indulgence in spirits.
Presently Parthenia appeared.
To the crowd around us all acting
was the same; and ! certainly was
not impressed with the lady's power
| as an actress. Her lines were
delivered coldly and correctly,
There was not the slightes feeling
manifested in any thing she uttered
But she had one quality that impress.
| ed me at once; she had the true stage
! presence. She was tall and shapely
! though rather thin, and neither paint
nor powder could hide the fact that
she was still beautiful. The rude au
| dience were impressed just as was
and respectfully refrained from any
''guying" OF the lady.
AS the play proceeded l became
aware that my companion was becom
Ing deeply interested in it. He bent
forward and kept his eyes fixed on the
stage. Once or twice whispered tc
him, but he made no reply. From
this time his attention never Tagged
till the curtain was finally
rung down. Then. amid thu
bosterous stamping, clapping and un'
earthly cat-calls that summoned thu
Barbarian and his BRIDE before thu
curtain, Mr.. Rawlinson shouted II
my ear:
"Where dc these actors stay?"
SAT the Windsor, l believe"
"Come and show me-"
The exit to the street was narrow
and unlighted, so that the performers
had reached their quarters by the
back passage some time before WI
could get there. Mr.. Rawlinson call
ed for tine manager of the troupe, anc
a gross-look1ng man in velveteen with
g. profusion OF iewelry, came to thu
sitting room.
al have business with your leading
i lady-Miss Devereaux," said Mr.. Raw
linson, quietly, referring to the play
bill. Can see her?'
The manager; was plainly no gentle
man himself, but he knew one whel
ne saw him. Something in the man
! ner of the other impressed him.
"That's Ned Blake's wife," he said
"rhe fact is," and the manager
laughed, Med is. as a jealous fool
+, aud makes all kind OF rows in ths
company. I'll speak to him.
Three minutes after the lngomar O
hall an hour before, entered. The in
terval between the stage and real on
had been a brief one; but. not too brie
| to allow Mr.. Blake to become decided
" drunk. His eyes were .bloodshot
his tongue thick, his gait uncertain.
"Wha-a you want O my wife?' b.
clustered. At the sight of Mr.. Raw
] linson his legs and his voice abruptly
paused. $780,. -,@
81 want Ethel-not you. Send he
here!" .''- ~, ~ - ~.
I He left the room at once. When h,
next entered he was following Parthe
MIA in a diMdent way. ..--.~..... -.
With, the paint and powder removed
she was still a handsome woman o
thirty, pale and thin. with great speak
ing eyes which at once made meunder
stand the chief charm Of her stag
presence. -. ~.
| She saw Mr.. Rawlinson; she CAV,
a cry and started toward him Will
open arms. - - sax
80, father!" n. J..
"Wait! LII
"He stood with his arms folded. Sh,
! paused. He spoke very gently but
! firmly, as I had never heard hin
speak. :. -. ss..ss% = !.
o.s.I want to takeyou back, nv child